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American Horror Story: Roanoke – Chapter 6 Review

Well, the creators of American Horror Story said we were in for a twist this season, and we saw it in Chapter 6. The season is no longer about the docuseries that reenacted Matt, Shelby, and Lee’s horrific time at Roanoke, but is instead about the “shows” sequel.

This week acted as a behind the scenes look at the making of the new show within a show. Its creator Sidney James (Cheyenne Jackson) has come up with the idea for a sequel because the original docuseries was such a smash hit (it even beat out Monday Night Football, Empire, and The Walking Dead!). Season two is a Big Brother-style show that brings Shelby, Matt, and Lee back to the house with the actors who played them. “Return to Roanoke: Three Days in Hell” will be shot 24-7 over the course of the blood moon, “when all the bad shit happens”, of course.

This week wasn’t completely different, though, because there were still some mysterious and gruesome deaths. While setting up the house for the new show, a crew member “accidentally” gored himself with a chainsaw. The show’s co-creator Diana (Shannon Lucio) freaks out over the death, that and some Satanic dead pigs found near the set and quits the show. As she is speeding from the house in her car, Pigman pops up in the back seat and attacks her. I’ll admit, I did not see this coming and it made me jump a bit. We then find out everyone from the show (except one) dies and what we are actually watching is the lost footage. Apparently, the last episode of the season throws us another twist, so I would assume this has something to do with it.

By the end, we finally get to see everyone start their three-day adventure in the house. In true Big Brother fashion, we find out real Shelby (Lily Rabe) and fake Matt (Cuba Gooding Jr.) had an affair causing tension in the house because real Matt (Andre Holland) is also there. Real Lee (Adina Porter) and fake Lee (Angela Bassett) also went at it because fake Lee doesn’t like how she is now seen as a “murdering bitch” by the public, causing her to become a drunk. Sounds like a reality show, doesn’t it? If it wasn’t for the crazy Pigman, I’d think I’m watching Real World!

That being said, why would any of them agree to go back to the house, especially real Shelby, Matt, and Lee? They barely escaped with their lives and now they’ve agreed to go back, and during the blood moon of all times? Real Matt even admits he doesn’t think they’re going to make it out alive this time. For this reason alone, they deserve whatever brutal death is coming. We already know they’re all going to die (except one, which makes things interesting). Now it’s just a matter of when and in what order.

Chapter 6 even gave us our first death out of the people in the house! The victim was Rory (Evan Peters) who played Edward Phillipe Mott in the docuseries. If you’re wondering why he is even there, it’s because he’s now married to fake Shelby (Sarah Paulson). His unfortunate death came at the hands of the two nurses, giving them the final letter in the word “murder” which they’ve been painting on the wall.

If sounds like this episode was a bit gimmicky, it’s because it was. Chapter 6 was so different from what we have seen in the past, I wasn’t sure if I was watching the same show. The twist wasn’t executed in the best way but I still applaud the writers for switching things up. I think a season with a complete curveball was needed and I like the direction it’s headed. Even though American Horror Story is an anthology, the show was still starting to feel like more of the same. This year, though, we have something completely new. Although this episode wasn’t the best, the rest of the season should be better because it gets back to what we’ve come to know and love about AHS; spooky stuff and the slaughtering of innocent people.